‘Without hope you have nothing.’ So says Graham Lee, a Grand National winning jockey after a late fall from a horse in which he was paralyzed from the neck down. The Jubilee Year of Hope is ending. The celebration passes but hope itself, a theological virtue, does not end; along with faith and charity, it […]
The Funeral of Dame Joanna Jamieson OSB (21.01.1935-13.10.2025), Abbess of Stanbrook 1983-2007 The photograph that illustrates this post was one of a series taken, at the instigation of M. Joanna, shortly after she was elected abbess in 1983, of each member of the Stanbrook community. M. Joanna is holding a branch of what seems to […]
In November our thoughts turn to who have died, especially as we commemorate All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance Sunday. Of course, we like to think that our loved ones are in heaven, but we might be anxious that they died without being fully prepared to meet God. In this season we can draw hope […]
Peacefully, around 10pm on Monday 13 October 2025, at Apley Grange Nursing Home, Harrogate, Mother Joanna Jamieson made her transitus. She was in her 91st year of age and the 68th of her monastic life. Please pray for her. Funeral arrangements to follow.
When we arrive at the beginning of October here at Stanbrook, Wass, we are aware Summer is definitely over; now we are into the beautiful season of Autumn. The trees are turning and the leaves are shouting their last hurrah, as they put on their final great show of colour, wearing their cloak of gold. […]
The Funeral of Dame Hilda Wood 27.02.1934-03.09.2025 Readings: Wisdom 3: 1-6, 9 Psalm 26/27 ‘The Lord is my light and my help’ 2 Cor 4: 14-5:1 John 6: 51-58 22 September 2025 Venus, shining low in the eastern sky, ushered in a perfect September day for today’s gathering to honour and pray for Dame Hilda […]
“Always be ready to give the reason for your hope” says Saint Peter. What is the reason? It is the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is there that we see the triumph of his lowliness, the victory he won for us as one of us, stripped powerless, abused, derided, to teach us that […]
In the early hours of 3 September 2025, our dear sister, Dame Hilda Wood, died peacefully at Apley Grange Nursing Home, Harrogate. She was in her 92nd year and the 69th of her monastic life. May she rest in peace. Details of the funeral to follow. A full obituary will appear in a future edition […]
All year we have been reflecting on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which Pope Francis proposed for this Jubilee Year, 2025. The feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord lends itself most gloriously to this theme as the Lord shows us his radiant face and form, even his clothes dazzling bright, as the hope of […]
ST BENEDICT: PATRON OF ALL EUROPE Context and history On 24 October 1964 Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict, ‘Patron of All Europe’ via the Apostolic Letter, Pacis Nuntius (‘Herald of Peace’). On that same day the Pope had re-consecrated St Benedict’s monastery of Monte Cassino which had been destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944 […]
We both reflected upon our day at Mount Grace Priory on our way home and without a doubt we both focussed in on how special it was to share midday prayer together in such a beautiful, peaceful and prayerful place. However, a ‘place’ is just that – it is a point of meeting; a location […]
On Thursday 3 July we were pleased to welcome Brs Meinrad and Gildas, both junior monks in their first vows, from Belmont Abbey, who were visiting at Ampleforth Abbey for a few days and came across to Stanbrook with Fr Gabriel (Everitt) to spend part of the day with us and particularly to meet up […]